Prescott has so much to offer to our citizens and visitors alike. All throughout the year, but especially this time of year, special events take center stage. During the month of June and early July, Prescott is particularly active with events of all kinds including art fairs, music festivals, car shows and parades, fireworks and, of course, the rodeo. These events offer a variety of experiences catering to our local residents as well as visitors. Many citizens think that the city organizes all … [Read more...] about Events Make Prescott Special
Phil Goode
Sculpting Prescott’s Cultural Heritage
Last month, I was privileged to speak at the dedication ceremony for a monument honoring Lt. Ernest A. Love at Prescott Regional Airport. This larger-than-life bronze statue stands outside the terminal, welcoming visitors to our fine airport and reminding us of one of Prescott’s true hometown heroes. Local artist William “Bill” Nebeker was commissioned to create this important piece. Bill is a renowned Western artist, and his works can be found all over the world, including right here in … [Read more...] about Sculpting Prescott’s Cultural Heritage
Preparing for Wildland Fire Season
This time of year, the Prescott area enters wildland fire season as the winter moisture subsides and the weather turns drier and warmer. The fire season for Prescott and all of Northern Arizona generally falls between April 1 and July 1. Weather and other factors can extend or shorten a fire season. Prescott Fire Department, working with partner agencies, is doing more than ever to help our community be prepared and resilient. However, as a community within a wildland-urban interface, we can … [Read more...] about Preparing for Wildland Fire Season
Signal Timing Coordination to Improve Traffic Flow
We have all noticed an increase in traffic in Prescott over the past few years. As more automobiles and other vehicles use our roads, it is important to keep traffic flowing smoothly and safely. The Prescott Public Works Department Streets Division has employed some high-technology solutions and has managed signal light timing to optimize traffic flow – all to keep traffic moving as efficiently as possible. The main effort in this regard has been on Willow Creek Road (WCR), one of the … [Read more...] about Signal Timing Coordination to Improve Traffic Flow
Reporting the State of the City of Prescott
Every year, I have the opportunity to give a presentation on the state of the City of Prescott to the Prescott Chamber of Commerce at their annual meeting. I am pleased to share some of the highlights of that presentation for our readers. I would like to begin by congratulating returning Councilmembers Cathey Rusing and Connie Cantelme. Connie has been named Mayor Pro Tem as well. I would also like to extend a welcome to new Councilmembers Ted Gambogi and Lois Fruhwirth, and wish them much … [Read more...] about Reporting the State of the City of Prescott
Installation of Ductile Iron Pipe (DIP) Versus Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) Pipe
First, I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year! As we look to the year ahead, I hope that yours will be a prosperous one! One of the issues that we continually deal with in the City of Prescott is replacement of old underground infrastructure. Water mains, sewers and other infrastructure deteriorate over time and eventually fail. Some of our underground pipes and lines are nearly 100 years old and still going. Other, newer installations seem to fail prematurely. One of these types that … [Read more...] about Installation of Ductile Iron Pipe (DIP) Versus Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) Pipe
December is a Special Time in Prescott
December in Prescott is a special time as we fully embrace our designation as Arizona’s Christmas City. Traditional annual events nearly every weekend of the month are connected by the magical lights on the Courthouse Plaza on display every night. Whether you enjoy the reverie of festive traditional events or just a quiet stroll through a display of thousands of brilliantly colored lights, Prescott has something for everyone this month. The 41st Annual Christmas Parade opens the events at 1 … [Read more...] about December is a Special Time in Prescott
November is a Time to Honor and Celebrate as We Usher in the Holidays
One of the things I appreciate about Prescott is that our community truly enjoys celebrations and honoring those who serve. November is a time to do just that, as we celebrate Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, and then we usher in one of the most significant seasons with the events of Arizona’s Christmas City. Veterans Day was originally named Armistice Day following the end of World War I, and then in the United States, it became a celebration honoring all of our military veterans. While Memorial … [Read more...] about November is a Time to Honor and Celebrate as We Usher in the Holidays
Understanding the Facts about Widening SR89
When the City announced the proposed widening of State Route 89 between the Phippen Roundabout and Willow Lake Road Roundabout earlier this summer, there was a great deal of discussion, in the form of letters to City Council, online and the local media outlets. Much of the early reaction expressed concern about how widening of the roadway would affect the scenic Granite Dells rocks. It is important to understand all of the reasons why the city is considering this project and the actual scope of … [Read more...] about Understanding the Facts about Widening SR89
Updating Ordinances
During my time as a councilmember and mayor, there have been many instances of antiquated, outdated and sometimes ineffective ordinances that were not consistent with our current times, or the real-world environment. In addition, several judicial decisions and case law have affected some of these ordinances. For that reason, I have been working with the city attorney and his team to identify and update some highly visible ordinances, to meet the test of modern times. A few of these are … [Read more...] about Updating Ordinances